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By: Naneka Hoffman Monrovia, Liberia; October 29, 2025 - Integrity Watch Liberia (IWL), with support from the Embassy of Ireland, has concluded a one-day roundtable with members of the National Legislature on a standardized score framework for reviewing mineral development agreements and concession contracts in Liberia. Speaking at the close of the event, Executive Director Harold Aidoo emphasized the need for Liberia’s mineral resources to be appropriately and transparently negotiated with concessionaires to ensure that both the state and its citizens benefit from such agreements. Mr. Aidoo lamented that over the years, many concession agreements had been flawed, depriving the country of vital revenue needed to address key national challenges such as infrastructure development, healthcare, and education. “We think that Liberia’s natural resources can generate more than one billion dollars to address critical challenges in infrastructure, health, and education,” he said. “The current national budget of about US$880.6 million may not be sufficient to implement the government’s ARREST agenda, which is estimated at US$8.4 billion over four years.” In remarks at the event, the Ambassador of Ireland to Liberia, Geraldine Considine, stressed that Liberia must unlock full potential of its natural resources through effective governance, strategic management, and enhanced domestic revenue generation. She described the standardized score framework as “more than just a technical tool” but rather a catalyst for institutional transformation and improved accountability in natural resource management. Also speaking, Senator Francis Dopoe, Chairperson of the African Parliamentarians Network on Illicit Financial Flows and Taxation (APNIFFT), assured Integrity Watch Liberia and its partners that lawmakers will make meaningful use of the knowledge gained from the discussion to strengthen legislative oversight and governance of the extractive sector. The roundtable brought together lawmakers from both the Liberian Senate and the House of Representatives, including members of the Concessions, Judiciary, and other key committees under the Liberian Chapter of APNIFFT. Editing by Jonathan Browne
